Power driven rotary toothbrush



Aug. 21, 1934. H. w. sTlMsoN 1,971,283

POWER DRIVEN ROTARY TOOTHBHUSH Filed March 3l, 1935 gwvento @19M Wl 'lshown in the drawing, described and claimed, ii

'593 pressing of the bulb 7, as well as during its eX- vstanceantiseptic, Y fnl' charged therefrom by compressing a collapsiblePatented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES` Nr OFFICE 11 Claims.

The invention relates to power driven rotary tooth brushes and has forits object to provide a device of this type wherein the liquid, for inisplaced in a container and dismember which has previously sucked liquidtherein, andto provide means whereby liquid discharged-from thecollapsible member will rotate a turbine wheel of the brush stem andwill be l'conveyed along the stem to the brush for a cleaning operationof the brush. i `With the above and other objects in view the inventionresides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter setforth,

being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of conveyormeans carried by the shaft the invention may be made within the y scopeof what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing: I Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional Viewthrough the device.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the brush shield.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a cap adapted to be placed on thedevice when the shield is removed for preventing `leakage when thedevice is stored, otherwise not in use.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the container inwhich antiseptic is placed as shown at 2. The container 1 may be formedfrom anymaterial, however, it is preferably formed from glassforsanitary purposes and the operator can easily 'see the liquid leveltherein. If desired a conventional form of liquid level Scale may beused as shown at 3in Figure 1. One side of the container 1 is providedwith a handle member 4 having a finger receiving apertureV 5 therein,through `which the operator passes his lingers during the operation ofthe device. y

The handlemember 4 has itsouter side concaved as shown at 6, and againstwhich a collapsble rubber bulb7 is compressed during the operation ofthe device, therefore it will be seen that the device will be steadiedduring the cornpansion. The concaved side 6 of the handle member 4conforms to the oonveXed side of the bulb 7 so as to reduce lost playbetween the parts and to insure positive collapsing oi one side of A thebulb 7 over a large area for a positive operation of the turbine wheelhereinafter set forth. Threaded at 8 on the container 4 is a head 9 inthe chamber 10 of which is rotatably mounted a turbine` wheel 1l havingits pintles l2 rotatably mounted in bearings 13 in opposite sides ofthe60 chamber 10. Turbine wheel 11 has one of its bearings or pintles 12provided 'with a square socket 14 for the rectangular shaped end 15 ofthe twisted wire brush shaft 16, therefore it will be seen that when theturbine wheel l1 is ro- 65 tat-ed the twisted wire shaft 16 will rotatetherewith. The forward side of the head 9 is prefer`l ably provided withremovable plate 17, which allows access to the chamber l0 for repairpurposes, and at the same time allows the turbine wheel 1l to `be placedin the chamber. Plate 17 is provided with an outwardly extending tubularportion 18 in which the twisted wire shaft 16 is rotatably mounted whenit terminates in a tapered portion 19, which is received in a taperedportion 20 of the brush sleeve 21, which in turn carries a semi circularshield 22 arching one side of the brush and adapted to shield the iieshpart of the mouth during the tooth cleaning operation, and at whichtimevthe brush 23v may be 80V rotated. Brush 23 may be of any formdesired, preferably with bristles of different length.

Threaded at 24 into the head 9 and inclining downwardly and outwardly isa valve casing 25 having opposed check valves 26 and 27. At the 85Ainitial starting of the operation of the device, the operator grasps thedevice with his fingers through the opening 5 and around the collapsiblebulb 7 and compresses the bulb, thenallows the same to expand. Thisexpanding action will suck antiseptic 2 from the container 1 through thetube 28 and thence through the intake passage 29 to the chamber 30 ofthe bulb, at which time the valve 26 is closed. Upon the nextcompression of the bulb 7, iiquidwiu be forced through thepassage 31 inthe valve casing 25 at the same time valve 27 will be moved to closedposition. The liquid passing through the passagel passes upwardlythrough the port 32 inthe head, subsidniiauy in the piane of the axis ofine turbine wheel, and downwardly through the port 33 and dischargestangentially against the teeth 34 of the turbine wheel 11, therebyrotating said turbine wheel and the brush 23 carried thereby. A m5portion of the liquid is trapped in the chamber 10 by bailie plates 35,which directs the same through a feed port 36 leading to the bearing ofthe twisted wire shaft 16, and as the shaft is rotated, it will conveythe liquid to the brush incident to its no GOT- 2, spiral shape. A valve37 is provided in connection with the feed port 36, whereby the amountof liquid allowed to pass through the shaft 16 may be regulated.

It will be noted that port 32 connects to the port 33 at the upper endof the head 9 and said portion is closed by a cap 38 at this point,therefore it will be seen that when it is desired to clean the ports 32Aand33 it will onlybenecessary to remove the cap Eiland access maybereadily had to these straight ports.

Cap 38 is provided with a ring 39, by means of which the device may behook or other support when not in use,

It will be noted that the headl 9-isout of axial alinement with thecontainer 1 ,.thereforeitwl1 be seen that when the container is placedon a shelf, the tubular member 18y willi incli e upwardly and any liquidwhich may accumulate therein will drain back into the container and willnotndrip. Byreferring to Figure 2-it willibe'seen that ,the chamber isopen at its lower end as shown at 4 0; andthe. excess antisepticorfluidtused'for the-rotation of the device will flow back into thecontainer'.A A downwardly extending lip- Lil` is preferably, providedhowever tof one side ot the passage 4Q to prevent liquid from`Vaccumulating on thegventy opening-l2, ccntrolled bythe valve 43.

From the aboveit will bey seen that a` power driven toothbrush-isprovided which is simple in construction, driven by.y antiseptic orother fluid andk aportion;v of; said fluid is: diverted to the brushingelementv duringthe recirculation of the antiseptic orliquidforpower-purposes. It will alsobeseen that the device is'simpleyineconstruc, tion, the partareduced to a: minimum@ andthat the same.lcene bacheaply manufactured and sold:

A- cap- 4A havingfl a chamber 45 .is 4provided and is adapted to beplaced, on the tapered' end 19 when'theshield 25is removed Theideafof;this cap-isfto preventleakagewhen the device iis stored, forinstancein-a; suitcase while travelling.

The invention having:l been set forthvwhat is claimedf as newand-usefulvis:A Y

l. A! rotary.' brush comprising a cas-ing, aro.- tatable-turbine-incasing; a iudi containercarriedbyl saidl casing; and:` means4 wherebyYiiuid inthe i container may; beY-recirculated between the container) andturbine wheelv for; rotating said wheel:

2. Thencombination witharotaryfbrushmountedI ini a casing; aliquidcontainercarriedI by`v said casing of means whereby liquid fromthev containehA may# be recirculated, a; turbine i, wheelI car.-

. ried by-said-.brush, means wherebysaid;recirculatingliquid; willrotate said turbinel wheel and means twhereby a portion` of theyrecirculating liquidwill. be divertedto the brush.

3.l The-ccmbinationwith arotary brush, ashaft carriedA by said brush,v`saidshaft,` being rotatably mounted. in a: casing, aturbine wheel`carried by thef shaft and` rotatablyy mounted in a.: chamber of thecasing, means for: recirculatinguidfor: rotating: theM turbine wheel,of; conveyor. means carried .by the` shaft whereby a. portion .of'saidrec irculatinguid'willbe diverted to the brush.

4; A deviceas set' forth in claim 3 wherein` the suspended fromi a.,

conveyor means carried by the shaft comprises a spiral groove in theshaft.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the conveyor means carriedby the shaft comprises a spiral groove in the shaft, said shaft beingformed from twisted wire forming the spiral groove.

6. A rotary portable fountain brush comprising a container, aheadcarried by said container andhaving a turbine wheel chamber in.communication with the chamber of the container, a turbine wheel in saidhead chamber, a tubular extension carried by said head and having ashaft bearing therein,y al shaft driven by the turbine wheel` androtatably'mounted in the tubular extension, a; brushdriven by said shaftadjacent the end of the tubular extension and means whereby liquid fromthe container may be recirculated to the turbine wheel chamber forrotating the wheel and to the container and means wherebyv a portion.of` saidV recirculating liquid maybe diverted' tothe brush.

7. rotary-portable fountain-brush comprising a container, a head:carried by said: container and having a turbine wheelfchamber incommunicationv with the chamber.v of the container,. a twisted wireshaft' driven bythe turbine wheel andforminCr a spiral-feedgroove, saidshaftbeing rotatably mounted in a tubular extension member carried bythe casing, a brushv driven by said shaft, a fluid by-pass betweenthe'turbine wheel chamber and the shaft bearing and a pumping deviceforrecirculatingl fluidL between they container chamber and projectingthe same against the turbine-wheel.

8; A1 device-as setfcrth in claim'l whereinthe pumping device comprisesa collapsible bulb, a double-valve throughone'of whichifluid-is suckedfrom the container and through thev otherof which liquid fromthebulb;is-,directedthrough a port and projected tangentially againstthe turbine wheel.

9. A device as set forthfin claim 'Iwherein the tubular:eXtension1memberis at an obtuse angle to the axis of the containerwherebyl when the container is placed on: a: horizontal support; liquidin the extension member will drain tothe turbine chamber;

10.` The combination; with;` av fountain rotatable brushl driven# by,4 aturbinewheel; saidy turbine wheel being disposed in` ai chamber ofI aheada liquidcontainer carried by said headwith its chamber incornrmlnication with the turbine chamber, a collapsiblev bulbcarried bythehead adjacent the: container and.- intov which liquid frolnthecontainerissucked; ofy anupwardly ex.- tending Y' discharge porttfrom`the collapsible bulb andterminating above the turbine wheel; said portterminating in a downwardly extending port' dischargingtangentiallyvagainst the turbine wheel.

ll; Azdevice. asset forth; in claimA l0 vwherein the upwardlyI extendingand: downwardly extending ports terminate in a communicating passageinitheyupper endiof the head anda closure carried by said head for saidpassage;

HARRY W. STIMSON;

